Relay armature latch with a relay disconnect



June 8, 1965 Y s JR 3,188,428

RELAY ARMATURE LATCH WITH A RELAY DISCONNECT Filed Dec. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

z x/owv Sens/e, d

BYW

4 TTOPNEY June 8, 1965 J, B, JR 3,188,428

RELAY ARMATURE LATCH WITH A RELAY DISCONNECT Filed Dec. 29. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mug I i j '7. I JNVENTOR.

Joan Save/5 JR K) Troy/w y United States Patent 3,188,428 RELAY ARMATURE LATCH WITH A RELAY DISCQNNEQT John Scheib, J12, Elmsford, N.Y., assignor to Ward Leonard Electric Co., Mount Vernon, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 79,398 7 Claims. (Cl. 2il0-106) This invention relates to electrical relays and is directed to the immobilizing of the armature of the relay.

An object of this invention is to provide a latching means for preventing the movement of an armature of a relay until the latching means is actuated by an electrical reset to release the armature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching means for retaining an armature in close contact position after deenergization of its actuating electromagnet until the latching means is separately actuated to release the armature.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which FIG; 1 is a front View of the relay with an electro- 1 magetic latching means;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic latching means separate from the relay;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the latching means and a sectional view of the armature of the relay along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

\ FIG. 4 is a side view of the latching means in locking position and a sectional view of the electromagnet and armature of the relay in closed position taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the latching means disengaged from the armature;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latching means and armature interlocked;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the contacting elements;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the latch actuated by the electromagnet;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the attachment of the catch to the relay armature; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear view of the mounting of the electromagnet' of the latching means on the panel of the relay.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings a multipole electromagnetic relay is illustrated comprising a mounting panel 21, contact members 22 with plungers, 23 for opening and closing the contacts, and 'an armature 24 actuated by a solenoid type of electromagnet 25. The electromagnetic relay is illustrated and described in detail in my copending application Serial Number 741,347 filed on June 11, 1958, and entitled Electrical Multipole Control Relays, now Patent No; 3,099,728 issued on July 30, 1963.

On the mounting panel 21 above the armature 24 and between the contact members 22 is the latch assembly 27 for immobilizing. the armature of the relay with the contacts in the closed position. The armature 24 moves up in response to the energization of the electromagnet 25 to close the contacts of the contact members 22, and moves down on deenergization of the electrcmagnet to open the contacts. The latch assembly interlocks with the armature to retain the armature in the raised and contact closing position after deenergization of the electromagnet 25 until the latch assembly is actuated releasing the armature 24.

The latch assembly 27 comprises a bracket 28, a coil assembly 31 and a magnetic frame 29 with pivotally ice mounted latch armature 30. A terminal block 32 is mounted on the bracket and supports the-terminals 33 for the leads 34 to the coil assembly. The block is held in place by the single screw 75 and prevented from rotating by two up-turned ears 76 on the latch bracket.

The bracket 28 is a single piece of stamped metal and has a generally U shape. The bracket comprises a mounting piece 35, and an L-shaped terminal supporting piece 36. The mounting piece 35 attaches the latch assembly to the mounting panel 21 and supports the coil assembly 31 and magnetic frame 29 with the latch bracket 28. The terminal supporting piece 36 extends normal to the mounting piece and under the coil assembly and past the latch armature to hold the terminal block in the front of the latch assembly. I

The coil assembly comprises a cylindrical core 37 and an electromagnet winding 38 mounted on the core 37. The core is fastened to the mounting piece 35 by a fiat head bolt 39 passin' through the mounting piece and threaded into the cylindrical core. The L-shaped magnetic frame 29 fits between the coil assembly and the bracket 28 to overlap with the core 37. The frame extends over the coil assembly to support the latch armature 5th at the opposite end of the core. The core, magnetic frame and latch armature are made of magnetizable material and form the magnetic path for the fluxproduced on energization of the electromagnetic winding p The bracket 28 has two slots 41 through the upperend of the mounting piece 35 and extending vertically. Two screws 42 pass through a respective slot and thread into the mounting panel 21 to securely fasten the latch assembly 27 to the mounting panel. The mounting piece has four circular bosses 43 fitting into rectangular slots 44 in the mounting panel. These bosses engage the inner verti-' cal sides of the slots to vertically align the latch assembly. The magnetic frame 29 also has raised circular bosses 45 fitting in circular opening 46 and the horizontal slot 47 in the mounting piece to properly locate the magnetic frame. The slots 41 extend vertically so the latch assembly can be adjusted vertically to properly position the assembly in relation to the relay armature 24 and provide a proper clearance between the armature roller $2 and the catch 56.

The latch armature 39 is best illustrated in FIG. 8 and has spaced fingers 56 forming a space 51 therebetween. The armature roller 52 is positioned in this slot and rotatably mounted on the shaft 53 having flattened ends 54 for securing the shaft to the fingers by rivets or screws 55. The roller is positioned at the lower end of the fin ers 59 to provide ample space for the catch 56.

At the other end of the armature edge slots 57 are provided for pivotally mounting the armature on'thc proiecticns 5% extending from the end of the magnetic frame 29 normal to the movement of the relay armature 24. A T- haped member 59 extends from the end of the mag-- netic frame 29 through the T-shaped slot 69 in the latch armature. The T-shaped member 59 is bent down to fit the neck 5% into the vertical portion 60a of the slot to pivotally lock the latch armature 30 on the magnetic frame 29. The latch armature when in a vertical position engages the end of the core 37 to complete the r'netal magnetic flux path through the L-shaped magnetic frame and the latch armature.

The latch armature is biasedfrom the vertical position away from the core by the biasing means 62. The latch armature is then moved into the vertical position on ener gization of the winding 38. The biasing means comprises a helical spring 63 fastened to the tabs 64, 65. The tab 64 is stamped from the magnetic frame to extend above the frame spaced from the latch armature and the tab 65 extends from the upper end of the latch armature. The helical spring 63 is connected to the tabs to bias the latch armature away from the core.

The roller 52 engages the catch 56 mounted on the relay armature 24. As previously stated, the relay armature 24 is similar to the armature on'the relay described in my co-pending application Serial No. 741,347, now Patent No. 3,099,728 and as illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a U-shaped frame 26 fastened to the armature 24 positioned below the electromagnet 25. The armature frame is guided in a vertical movement by the U-shaped side legs 66 engaging the electromagnet 25. The upper member 67 extends between the upper ends of the side legs 66 and supports the catch 56 and moves the catch in a vertical stroke.

The catch 56 comprises an upwardly extending arm 63 having. an L-shaped notch member 69 and a ramp 7% 011 the upper end thereof. Said notch member has a notch surface extending generally parallel to the movement of the roller 52. A bead or rib 7 1 extends longitudinally down the center of the arm 68 forming a raised portionin the notch surface and is engaged by the roller 52 forming a line contact therewith. The roller 52 is preferably made of nylon and the bead or rib 71 spaces the roller from the edges of the catch to insure a smooth low friction movement which will be free of contact with burrs produced on the edges of the catch during manufacture.

i The catch 56 is fastened to the underside of the member 67 by the bolt 61. The bolt passes through the clear ance hole 74 in the armature frame 26 and threads into the catch 56. The bosses 72 fit in the openings '73 to position the arm 68 parallel to the roller 52. When the armature 30 is held in the vertical position by the energization by the coil assembly, the roller 52 is drawn clear of the notch member 69 permitting the relay armature 24 with the cross member 67 to drop to the lower position. The L-shaped notch member or hooked member has an angle slightly greater than ninety degrees to insure that the weight of the armature assembly and the pressure of the contact springs assist rather than hinder the movement of the latch armature into the vertical position when the latch coil assembly is energized. In the lower position the biasing means forces the roller 52 against the ramp 70 after the coil assembly is deenergized. On actuation of the relay 20 the armature frame 26 raises the catch 56 and the roller 52 moves along the bead on the ramp 70 and the biasing means 62 pivots the latch armature 3t) so that the roller 52 moves under the member 69. On deenergization of the relay 20 the roller 52 holds the armature frame 26 in the upper contacting position. Thus the contacts of the contact heads remain in engagement until the coil assembly is actuated removing the roller permitting the frame to drop.

A feature of this invention is the adaptibility of the latch assembly. It is readily positioned above the armature in place of two of the contact poles. Installations of the relay can be easily modified, or the relay may initially include the latch assembly. The holes used for mounting and aligning the contact poles are also used by the latch assembly.

Another feature of this invention is the few threaded members required to fasten the parts together and mount the reset on the panel. The magnetic assembly is held together by a single bolt and the terminal block is fastened to the magnetic assembly by a single bolt. Only two bolts are required to fasten the assembly to the mounting panel and permit vertical adjustment of the I roller in relation to the catch.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electromagnet relay having an armature for opening and closing contacts, a reset latch comprising a catch mounted on and movable with said relay armature, an electromagnet having a latch armature mounted to move in and out of engagement with the electromagnet, means for resiliently biasing said latch armature out of engagement with said electromagnet, said latch armature having a roller movable by said armature generally normal to the movement of the relay armature,

said catch having a notch surface extending generally parallel to the movement of said roller and receiving said roller on energization of said relay to hold said relay armature in the energized position on deenergization of said relay and permitting said roller'to move from said catch on energization of said electromagnet and said catch having a ramp surface extending laterally to the arc of movement of said roller and extending in continuity with said notch surface to provide a smooth transition of said roller from the non-holding position to the holding position on actuation of said relay armature.

"2. In the combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said notch surface is at an angle greater than ninety degrees to the Vertical to provide a slope to the surface assisting the latch armature to move into engagement and separating the roller from the catch.

3. In the combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said notch and ramp surfaces have a rib extending laterally to said roller and engageable by said roller to provide a smooth frictionless and positive movement of said latch armature relative to said catch. l

4. An electromagnetic relay having an electromagnet reset and comprising a panel, contacts mounted on said panel, an electromagnet having an armature actuating said contacts on energization and deenergization of said electromagnet, a second electromagnet mounted on said panel and having a second armature pivotally mounted to swing through an arc on energization and deenergization of said second electromagnet, resilient biasing means mounted on said second electromagnet spacing said second armature from said electromagnet, a roller on said second armature, a catch mounted on said first armature and having a ramp and a notch engageable by said roller for retaining said first armature in a contact engaging position, said ramp extending laterally to the arc of movement of said roller and engaged by said roller on deenergization of both relays, saidnotch engaging said roller on deenergization of said second electromagnet and with said catch in a raised position, said notch having a surface extending upwardly from the horizontal to assist in the separation of said roller and catch on energization of the second electromagnet. a

5. An electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second electromagnet comprises a generally U-shaped supporting frame having a mounting piece for attaching said second electromagnet to said panel, an L- shaped magnet frame for supporting said second armature pivotally mounted on said frame and said resiliently biasing means, a coil assembly having a soft iron core, a single threadedmember extending through said mounting piece and said magnetic'frarne and threaded into said core fastening said elements of said second electromagnet to gether. y

6. An electromagnetic relay as set forth in claim 5 wherein said U-shaped supporting frame has two vertically arranged slots and two threaded members fitting'in said slots and threaded into said panels to adjustably fasten said second electromagnet to said panel by relative movement of said frame and said threaded members.

'7. In combination with a main relay having an electromagnet and main relay armature actuatable between contact open and closed positions and with a latch relay having an electromagnet and latch armature with means for biasing the latch armature from said latch relay electromagnet, latch means comprising a roller mounted on one armature and a catch mounted on the other armature and extending generally normal to the movement of the main relay armature and generally parallel to the movement of the roller for receiving the biased roller on deenergization of the latch relay to retain the main relay in the closed position and said catch having a ramp extending normal to the movement of said roller and positioned in the path of movement of the roller when the main relay armature is in the open position for engagement by the roller to guide the biased roller into the catch on movement of the main relay armature from open to closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hutchinson 200-87 Adelson 200-106 Ford 200-106 Ellis et al 200-87 Pfaff et al. 200-98 Maier 200-88 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

MAX L. LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN ELECTROMAGNET RELAY HAVING AN ARMATURE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING CONTACTS, A RESET LATCH COMPRISING A CATCH MOUNTED ON AND MOVABLE WITH SAID RELAY ARMATURE, AN ELECTROMAGNET HAVING A LATCH ARMATURE MOUNTED TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ELECTROMAGNET, MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID LATCH ARMATURE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET, SAID LATCH ARMATURE HAVING A ROLLER MOVABLE BY SAID ARMATURE GENERALLY NORMAL TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE RELAY ARMATURE, SAID CATCH HAVING A NOTCH SURFACE EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER AND RECEIVING SAID ROLLER ON ENERGIZATION OF SAID RELAY TO HOLD SAID RELAY ARMATURE IN THE ENERGIZED POSITION ON DEENERGIZATION OF SAID RELAY AND PERMITTING SAID ROLLER TO MOVE FROM SAID CATCH ON ENERGIZATION OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET AND SAID CATCH HAVING A RAMP SURFACE EXTENDING LATERALLY TO THE ARC OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER AND EXTENDING LATERALLY TO THE WITH SAID NOTCH SURFACE TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF SAID ROLLER FROM THE NON-HOLDING POSITION TO THE HOLDING POSITION ON ACTUATION OF SAID RELAY ARMATURE. 